Education has changed an awful lot in just a generation. Years ago, young children spent their time at school playing, crafting and having fun. It wasn’t until they were older that homework and exams challenged them and they certainly weren’t expected to be able to read and write more than their names before they started school.
Nowadays, children as young as five and six face end of year exams. Children in the first year of their school life are expected to complete homework assignments, and the pressures put on our children to learn are far greater than they used to be. This can confuse us are parents. We want the best for our children. We want them to do well in their exams and succeed at school. This can mean that we want to give them a head start by teaching them as much as we can at home. Play can seem less important than learning. But, it shouldn’t. For young children, play should be everything that matters.
Fortunately, play is the very best way for young children to learn. They play, they have fun, their imagination and creativity are encouraged, and they learn. Here are five fabulous ways to let your children learn through play.
Crafting
Crafting is such as a fantastic way for children to learn. Making pictures, decorations, toys, cards and anything else that you can think of introduces your child to colors, textures, patterns and more. It gives them a chance to learn how to put things together and helps them to develop their motor skills and problem-solving skills.
You don’t need to be a super artist to craft. You just need some colored pens and paper, some cardboard tubes and basic craft supplies.
Baking
As children get older, baking and cooking with them teach them a valuable life skill. But you can start a basic kitchen education much younger. Make them comfortable in the kitchen by letting them make a mess and get stuck in.
Visiting Museums
Old fashioned, traditional museums don’t offer much room to play. But, more modern museums can be great fun for your children. Many of them include interactive exhibits, dressing up, crafting, building and more. There’s plenty of chances for your children to have fun while they learn more about the world around them.
Enjoying Playgrounds
Believe it or not, playgrounds teach your children more than you’d ever imagine. In their early years, playing in a playground can teach them more about nature, about structure and texture, and about their own bodies and abilities. They’ll learn more about what they can do, and how they work. The playground will also help them to develop their social skills, as it might be the first place that they make friends outside of the house.
Role Playing Games
You don’t need to buy expensive toys for your children to practice role-playing. You can pretend to be doctors, teachers, builders, sportspeople, police officers and anything else that you can think of. This also helps your children to practice their social skills while learning more about the world around them.